Pratikramana Full Version

Author(s): Dada Bhagwan
Publisher: Mahavideh Foundation

Page 69

[3] These Are Not Lord Mahavir's Pratikramans
Pratikraman
forget it by tomorrow.
Now, when you cannot remember it as it occurs, how are you going to remember it in the evening? How is one going to remember his mistakes by the evening when he is confused and worried the whole day? There is no awareness at all. Unconsciousness! One walks around in absolute ignorance. One has no awareness of 'Who am I?' so how can he see his faults? He would be blessed if he could.
Questioner: But can someone who has not taken Gnan do pratikraman? If we explain the process of pratikraman to those people who have not taken the Gnan, would they benefit from it?
Dadashri: No, there will not be any awareness, will there? Awareness arises because demerit karmas (paap) are destroyed with Gnan and when this awareness arises, everything - all mistakes, remains in awareness (khyal).
Questioner: Therefore, this solution of pratikraman cannot be given to everyone.
Dadashri: It cannot be done, can it? It will not help others. But you should tell them to at least do whatever little they can. Whatever little one does, one will benefit from it. But one will not be able to maintain awareness. How can awareness remain? But ultimately, he will benefit if he knows about pratikraman. But how can one benefit when he does not even know this cure?
Dadashri: 'We' used to do only pratikraman. 'We did pratikraman all the time.
Questioner: I am talking about before you attained Selfrealization
Dadashri: In those days, it was not like it is today.
Even before Gnan, 'we' used to do pratikraman, but what kind? It was pratikraman inclusive of repentance for this is a wrong karma that is being bound.' But those cannot be regarded as true pratikramans. True pratikraman began after Gnan.
Real Pratikraman Through Right Vision
Questioner: How can one do pure pratikraman? How can we do real pratikraman?
Dadashri: True pratikraman begins after Self-realization. Once the enlightened vision (samkit) is attained the right vision (drashri), the vision as the Self (Atmadrashti) arises; only then will you be able to do real pratikraman. Until then, one can still decrease his faults with pratikraman. If one does not have this enlightened vision but still does pratikraman for his mistakes and repents for them, he will bind lesser demerit karma. In doing pratikraman and repenting, karma may even get destroyed altogether!
Why do we quickly remove tea or coffee stains form our clothes?
Questioner: To remove the stain.
Dadashri: Likewise, you should immediately wash away internal stains the moment they occur. These people here immediately wash away their internal stains. The moment something occurs, the moment any kashays (anger, pride, deceit and greed) arises within, they immediately wash them away until it becomes spotless and meticulous within. Here you do it only
Therefore, these people do Paryushan once a year because they do not have awareness. (Paryushan is the most important Jain religious observance of the year. This is a time of intensive study, reflection and purification). There is no awareness whatsoever.
(70) Questioner: Did you ever do samayik?